2008-08-25

BEIJING CLOSING CEREMONIES - LONDON HANDOVER

MONDAY #2

Arguably the best Olympics ever. My opinion? It definitely was! The Chinese went out of their way to make sure everything went perfect, and I wouldn't expect any less. Of course I'm still bitter that Toronto didn't win their bid against China (it came down to the final two) because I would have been there right now! I know...selfish...what can you do. I did think the games were a little stiff though...maybe too perfect? Maybe too many rules? Maybe it was necessary?

The winner of the Marathon Mubarak Hassan Shami of Kenya. The Marathon is the final and probably the most important event of the games. It is the sport that started the Olympics, so they have the pleasure of receiving their medals during the closing ceremonies in front of a massive crowd! How cool is that?



Although the closing ceremonies was not on the same level as the opening ones, I still enjoyed it. The Chinese pop songs were so catchy! I still have "Beijing Beijing" in my head.






Canadian Olympic team was a mess! On a good note, this was one of our strongest showings at the summer games.




THE LONDON 2010 HANDOVER


Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London. Apparently he's always some sort of hot mess and Londoners look away with embarrassment. Could he wear proper fitting clothes? Buttoned up his jacket? A little disrespectful...



Poor Poor Poor London! I mean that in every way! I expected so much more from their 8 minute performance I'm having a hard time deciding where to start critiquing. The bus idea was nice, but their Olympic logo is so ickkk would they not have come up with something better? Is it too late to change it?



The dancing was a bit strange here, all the slow motion moves didn't really explain what was going on or what they were trying to do. Plus the person in the wheelchair wasn't really disabled and she got up and started dancing. Rude! There are plenty of people that are wheelchair bound that would have loved this opportunity. I also heard some Londoners were complaining about how multi-cultural the show was...isn't that London though? I guess I'm lucky to live where I do, diversity is embraced and not seen as a problem. (Not saying that's the complete case above, spare me the lecture *yawn*)

So the bus started to open up which was cool, the grass was suppose to represent London's Fields and green space.

It looks a bit better in the pictures, but on TV, it looked awful...like a bunch of weeds...well that was my first impression.

Poor Leona Lewis, she looked like a big giant weed coming up from other sin that dress thing. Also she looked nervous as all hell, almost shaking, it was cute.

Again it looks better in pictures then it did on TV.

Jimmy Page from led Zeppelin was there! Jimmy and Leona sang "A Whole Lotta Love". I don't know what that song has to do with the Olympics. When Vancouver had their handover in Torino for 2010, at least Avril sang something relevant.
Leona was more relaxed here, and the dress was cute in the end. Very Rhianna...


Awful eh? that was it! Pretty much reinforcing all London stereotypes

A lot of people were upset that David was there saying stuff like well he's not an Olympian...and he doesn't even live in London anymore. I thought it was cool though, star power!

In the end it wasn't horrible horrible, but it could have been tones better! London has so much work to do it's not even funny. I wish they had focused on both the history and the culture. Not toot my own countries horn much, but the Vancouver handover for 2010 was so much better. You can watch it on Youtube if you are interested.



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18 comments:

this wheel's on fire said...

i was shocked to see jimmy there! but they sounded good together.

WendyB said...

I thought that thing with the wheelchair dancer was insane! She danced and then got back in the chair! Too crazy.

ediot said...

hyttans@gmail.com
thanks for your comments.!

we wear things said...

i'm quite sad that the olympics are over... but i guess more time to check over fashion blogs again! it was a fantastic closing ceremony.. i'm not embarressed to say i shed a tear or two.

-issa

Bex said...

I always get sad when the Olympics are over...but here's to Chicago in 2016...yay!!!!

Jen (MahaloFashion) said...

^Hmm it's not chicago it's Copenhagen in 2016 (check wiki) :P

Seraphine said...

I hope, even if just a little, that the spirit of the olympics influences the world. it shows people and nations can be together in a respectful and peaceful way, even with all the differences of opinion and culture.

Angela said...

i read somewhere that those performers during training and practice in the prior months sometimes wear adult diapers so they won't need to go to the bathroom. i wonder if it is true. yikes.

aizat.cinta.goddess said...

i hate the closing..the opeing was so much better..and yes..london and leona??the song choice..yuck me a lot..i still love leona!

Dropsofglamour said...

Lol! I haven't cared all that much about the games to be honest. I live in England and i really dont think they can produce anything that comes close to what China did. They could never justify spending that much money to the grumpy british public!

Make Do Style said...

I couldn't watch it as I knew we'd do something rubbish - can't believe our logo choice still!
London is diverse and is fab but we do have a fat stupid mayor who can't do his buttons up - he's a joke and I didn't vote for him.
But the games will be fab!

Terren said...

i completely agree jen. i could not stop staring at his unbuttoned jacket! it bugged me to no end, especially next to jacques rogge and hu jintao.

Siru said...

This is huge. I should have watched it.

juliet xxx

michelle said...

Stunning nonetheless!

Kira Aderne said...

well, I really gonna miss to watch the games at the TV, i love the Olympics this year! and the London part could be better, for sure....

a kiss

great post!

Melissa said...

Haha Boris Johnson is funny, I didn't get to see the handover ceremony but I kept seeing clips of the Mayor handling the flag on the news which was hilarious! I don't think London can beat China, I am particularly pessismistic though although I guess I should be biased towards London! Well, to me, it's really the sport/olympians that really matter at the end of the day.

Seeker said...

Great great post.

xoxo

kokostiletto said...

this was the best review of the closing ceremonies! seriously! awesome job and thanks !!